Three years after Kosovo submitted its application for candidate country status for membership in the European Union, the process has remained almost at the same point. While local institutions talk about progress and clear strategic orientation, the message from Brussels is cold and the same that the decision is still up to the member states of the union.
The incumbent government says that for the process to remain based on meritocracy and for the EU to maintain credibility, the application must at least receive serious attention and assessment from the European Union and its members. However, experts on European integration link the advancement of the Euro-integration path with progress in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.
The European Union office in Kosovo tells KosovaPress that the European Commission is prepared to proceed with drafting an opinion on Kosovo's application, but only after member states request this step.
"Please note that the European Commission is ready to prepare an opinion on Kosovo's application for membership, if requested by the Council. Also, as previously stated, the decision on new states joining the EU is ultimately up to the Member States to decide," the response states.
On the other hand, the incumbent government tells KosovaPress that the country deserves the status of a candidate country for membership in the European Union.
Klisman Kadiu, media advisor to the acting Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, tells KosovaPress that the economic, political progress and the overall implementation of reforms prove Kosovo's readiness to receive the status of candidate country for membership in the European Union.
"Engagement through intensive meetings and conversations at every level with counterparts and colleagues from the EU and member states has not been lacking. There we have argued how we reached the application and why we deserve the status of a candidate country. For the process to remain based on meritocracy and maintain credibility, especially now with the revival of the enlargement process due to the geopolitical situation in Europe, the application must at least receive serious attention and assessment from the EU and its members," his response states.
On the other hand, political scientist Artan Muhaxheri says that Kosovo's path of advancement towards the European Union is 100 percent dependent on progress in the dialogue with Serbia.
According to him, without the revival of dialogue and constructive participation in the implementation of the agreements reached, there is no theoretical possibility for Kosovo to make significant steps on the European agenda.
Kosovo officially applied for membership in the European Union on 15 December 2022. The application document was submitted during the Czech presidency of the Council of the EU, marking a historic step in the country's efforts towards European integration. Initially, the application was signed the day before, on 14 December 2022, by President Vjosa Osmani, the now-incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti and former Speaker of Parliament Glauk Konjufca, to be officially submitted in Brussels.
